Retractable fence apparatus

Abstract

A retractable fence apparatus which comprises a housings. The housing has a bottom wall, a top wall with a longitudinal slot, a rear wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls. The housing is installed within the ground with the top wall level with the top of the ground. A of lift mechanism is provided. The lift mechanism is installed onto the bottom wall within the housing. A barrier assemblies are also provided. The barrier assembly is installed within the housing of the lift mechanism. A mechanism is for operating lift mechanism, wherein a the barrier assembly can be raised up and lowered down through the longitudinal slot in the top wall of the housing.

1. A retractable fence apparatus which comprises:
 a) a housing, said housing having a bottom wall, a top wall with a longitudinal slot, a rear wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls, wherein said housing is installed within the ground with said top wall level with the top of a ground; 
 b) a lift mechanism, wherein said lift mechanism is installed onto said bottom wall within said housing; 
 c) a barrier assembly, wherein said barrier assembly is installed within said housing onto said lift mechanism; and 
 d) means for operating said lift mechanism, wherein a portion of said barrier assembly is raised up and lowered down through said longitudinal slot in said top wall of said housing, wherein said lift mechanism comprises: 
 e) a base platform having opposite upwardly extending side rails; and 
 f) a lazy tongs structure comprising an expandable scissor linkage and having a plurality of upper and lower rollers attached to respective upper and lower ends of the linkage, said lazy tongs structure is positioned horizontally, wherein said lower rollers will ride on a top surface of a base platform of lift mechanism between said opposite upwardly extending side rails, wherein said upper rollers will ride on a bottom surface of a base platform of barrier assembly between said opposite downwardly extending side rails, wherein said barrier assembly comprises: 
 g) a base platform having opposite downwardly extending side rails; and 
 h) a picket fence structure mounted vertically onto said base platform, wherein said upper rollers of said lazy tongs structure will ride on a bottom surface of said base platform between said opposite downwardly extending side rails. 
 
     
     
       2. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said operating means comprises a cylinder and piston assembly operatively coupled horizontally between opposite ends of said lazy tongs structure, wherein when said cylinder and piston assembly is activated said lazy tongs structure will extend and contract to lower and raise said picket fence structure of each said barrier assembly. 
     
     
       3. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a remote control system for activating said cylinder and piston assembly. 
     
     
       4. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a spring biased guard member pivotally mounted within said housing between said side walls and directly under said longitudinal slot in said top wall, wherein when said picket fence structure is lowered down through said longitudinal slot in said top wall, said spring biased guard member will pivot to protect and cover said longitudinal slot in said top wall and prevent debris from entering said housing. 
     
     
       5. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising an integrated drainage system located below said bottom wall of said housing to help remove water therefrom. 
     
     
       6. A retractable fence apparatus which comprises:
 a) a plurality of housings, each said housing having a bottom wall, a top wall with a longitudinal slot, a rear wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls, wherein each said housing is installed within the ground with said top wall level with the top of a ground; 
 b) a plurality of lift mechanisms, wherein each said lift mechanism is installed onto said bottom wall within one said housing; 
 c) a plurality of barrier assemblies, wherein each said barrier assembly is installed within one said housing onto one said lift mechanism; and 
 d) means for operating each said lift mechanism, wherein a portion of each said barrier assembly is raised up and lowered down through said longitudinal slot in said top wall of one said housing, wherein each said lift mechanism comprises: 
 e) a base platform having opposite upwardly extending side rails; and 
 f) a lazy tongs structure comprising an expandable scissor linkage and having a plurality of upper and lower rollers attached to respective upper and lower ends of the linkage, said lazy tongs structure is positioned horizontally, wherein said lower rollers will ride on a top surface of a base platform of lift mechanism between said opposite upwardly extending side rails, wherein said upper rollers will ride on a bottom surface of a base platform of barrier assembly between said opposite downwardly extending side rails, wherein each said barrier assembly comprises: 
 g) a base platform having opposite downwardly extending side rails; and 
 h) a picket fence structure mounted vertically onto said base platform, wherein said upper rollers of said lazy tongs structure will ride on a bottom surface of said base platform between said opposite downwardly extending side rails. 
 
     
     
       7. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each said operating means comprises a cylinder and piston assembly operatively coupled horizontally between opposite ends of said lazy tongs structure, wherein when said cylinder and piston assembly is activated said lazy tongs structure will extend and contract to lower and raise said picket fence structure of each said barrier assembly. 
     
     
       8. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a remote control system for activating each said cylinder and piston assembly. 
     
     
       9. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a spring biased guard member pivotally mounted within each said housing between said side walls and directly under said longitudinal slot in said top wall, wherein when said picket fence structure is lowered down through said longitudinal slot in said top wall, said spring biased guard member will pivot to protect and cover said longitudinal slot in said top wall and prevent debris from entering said housing. 
     
     
       10. The retractable fence apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising an integrated drainage system located below said bottom wall of each said housing to help remove water therefrom.